from the maybe-torn-apart-by-six-of-nine dept.
A team of astronomers investigating extreme trans-Neptunian objects (orbiting at more than 150 AU) has found two objects that may have been torn apart by a gravitational encounter with a planet:
a team of researchers led by the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias (IAC) in collaboration with the Complutense University of Madrid has taken a step towards the physical characterization of these bodies, and to confirm or refute the hypothesis of Planet Nine by studying them. The scientists have made the first spectroscopic observations of 2004 VN112 and 2013 RF98, both of them particularly interesting dynamically because their orbits are almost identical and the poles of the orbits are separated by a very small angle.
This [suggests] a common origin, and their present-day orbits could be the result of a past interaction with the hypothetical Planet Nine. This study, recently published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, suggests that this pair of ETNOs was a binary asteroid which separated after an encounter with a planet beyond the orbit of Pluto.
Also at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias.
Visible spectra of (474640) 2004 VN112–2013 RF98 with OSIRIS at the 10.4 m GTC: evidence for binary dissociation near aphelion among the extreme trans-Neptunian objects (open, DOI: 10.1093/mnrasl/slx003) (DX)
The existence of significant anisotropies in the distributions of the directions of perihelia and orbital poles of the known extreme trans-Neptunian objects (ETNOs) has been used to claim that trans-Plutonian planets may exist. Among the known ETNOs, the pair (474640) 2004 VN112–2013 RF98 stands out. Their orbital poles and the directions of their perihelia and their velocities at perihelion/aphelion are separated by a few degrees, but orbital similarity does not necessarily imply common physical origin. In an attempt to unravel their physical nature, visible spectroscopy of both targets was obtained using the OSIRIS camera-spectrograph at the 10.4 m Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC). From the spectral analysis, we find that 474640–2013 RF98 have similar spectral slopes (12 versus 15 per cent/0.1 μm), very different from Sedna's but compatible with those of (148209) 2000 CR105 and 2012 VP113. These five ETNOs belong to the group of seven linked to the Planet Nine hypothesis. A dynamical pathway consistent with these findings is dissociation of a binary asteroid during a close encounter with a planet and we confirm its plausibility using N-body simulations. We thus conclude that both the dynamical and spectroscopic properties of 474640–2013 RF98 favour a genetic link and their current orbits suggest that the pair was kicked by a perturber near aphelion.
Recently: NASA Website Allows Public to Search WISE Data for Nearby Objects and Planet Nine
Related Stories
NASA is collaborating with Zooniverse to allow the public to search WISE data for "nearby" rogue planets, brown dwarfs, and Planet Nine:
NASA is inviting the public to help search for possible undiscovered worlds in the outer reaches of our solar system and in neighboring interstellar space. A new website, called Backyard Worlds: Planet 9, lets everyone participate in the search by viewing brief movies made from images captured by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) mission. The movies highlight objects that have gradually moved across the sky.
"There are just over four light-years between Neptune and Proxima Centauri, the nearest star, and much of this vast territory is unexplored," said lead researcher Marc Kuchner, an astrophysicist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. "Because there's so little sunlight, even large objects in that region barely shine in visible light. But by looking in the infrared, WISE may have imaged objects we otherwise would have missed."
Previously: No Evidence for 'Planet X', says NASA - "[No] object the size of Saturn or larger exists out to a distance of 10,000 astronomical units (AU), and no object larger than Jupiter exists out to 26,000 AU."
NASA's WISE Spacecraft Discovers Most Luminous Galaxy in Universe
NASA's NEOWISE Mission Finds 72 Additional Near-Earth Objects
Two New Kuiper Belt Objects Boost the Case for "Planet Nine"
The Mysterious 'Planet Nine' Might be Causing the Whole Solar System to Wobble
Observatories Team Up to Reveal Rare Double Asteroid
New observations by three of the world's largest radio telescopes have revealed that an asteroid discovered last year is actually two objects, each about 3,000 feet (900 meters) in size, orbiting each other.
Near-Earth asteroid 2017 YE5 was discovered with observations provided by the Morocco Oukaimeden Sky Survey on Dec. 21, 2017, but no details about the asteroid's physical properties were known until the end of June. This is only the fourth "equal mass" binary near-Earth asteroid ever detected, consisting of two objects nearly identical in size, orbiting each other. The new observations provide the most detailed images ever obtained of this type of binary asteroid.
On June 21, the asteroid 2017 YE5 made its closest approach to Earth for at least the next 170 years, coming to within 3.7 million miles (6 million kilometers) of Earth, or about 16 times the distance between Earth and the Moon. On June 21 and 22, observations by NASA's Goldstone Solar System Radar (GSSR) in California showed the first signs that 2017 YE5 could be a binary system. The observations revealed two distinct lobes, but the asteroid's orientation was such that scientists could not see if the two bodies were separate or joined. Eventually, the two objects rotated to expose a distinct gap between them.
Related: Binary Asteroid May Have Been Torn Apart by "Planet Nine"
NASA to Redirect an Asteroid's Moon With Kinetic Impact
Hubble Telescope Observes Binary Asteroid With Comet-Like Features
ESA Plans "Hera" Follow-Up Mission to NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Friday February 24 2017, @02:38AM
Seriously, do you think now is the right time to achieve an international consensus on how to name anything, especially something as important as a major planet?
We need an Italian astronomer to find it, so he can name it after a Roman God for consistency... Otherwise it's going to be a fight of absolutely epic proportions.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Friday February 24 2017, @03:00AM
We should name it Colossus. Or maybe a name that reflects its irregular orbit and hypothetical status as a "captured rogue planet".
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by PiMuNu on Friday February 24 2017, @04:58AM
Planet McPlanetface
(Score: 3, Interesting) by gidds on Friday February 24 2017, @02:38PM
As I understand it, the form was originally much richer than simply 'X-y Mc-X-face'; it encompassed a range of similar constructions (with repeated or related main elements combined with short, common name affixes), such as:
So come on, people — use your imagination! We can do better! (You don't want to be Copy McCopycat, now, do you?!)
To get you started, how about 'Lord Planet of Planetton'? 'Spherey O'Planetfeatures'? 'Planet Planetson the Third'? 'Rocky Globey Spacey Thing'? 'General Sir Planet Plantagenet'?
(PS. I still think it should have been called Usain Boat...)
[sig redacted]
(Score: 2) by bzipitidoo on Friday February 24 2017, @06:19AM
Silly boy, asking scientists to hold off on a major discovery is like asking rabbits not to have sex.
You don't want an epic fight over the name? Dude, fights are great for ratings! You also do not want there to be the World Cup and the Olympics because they're too violent?
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 24 2017, @08:45AM
That's easy, put the Italian astronomer to work on something completely unrelated and he will discover planet IX* by chance, as usual.
*) It is really planet X and pluto classification is a conspiracy aimed at avoiding tinfoil hatters telling astronomers "told you about planet X, HA".
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 24 2017, @10:21AM
Astronomers should've lowered the thresholds for a planet until there were exactly 29 of them.
Imagine the boost in funding if the search was for "Planet XXX".
(Score: 2) by Refugee from beyond on Friday February 24 2017, @10:49PM
It should be named Planet X just to fuck with people who “demoted” Pluto.
Instantly better soylentnews: replace background on article and comment titles with #973131.
(Score: 3, Funny) by bob_super on Saturday February 25 2017, @09:07AM
Then just name it "Pluto".
I've got the popcorn ready.